Find cheap Pacific Coastal flights

Serving close to 20 destinations in British Columbia, Pacific Coastal Airlines is a well-established regional airline founded in 1987. As a Victoria-born, Vancouver-based travel journalist, I’ve taken Pacific Coast Airlines for ski vacations, bear-watching expeditions, Indigenous cultural explorations and family visits.

Its approach is straightforward and fairly barebones, not to be confused with Emirates or Cathay Pacific. Turboprop aircraft dominate the Pacific Coastal Airlines fleet. The airline is particularly useful for reaching remote, less-served communities.

Why travel on Pacific Coastal Airlines?

To put things in perspective, I’m always amazed by the fact British Columbia is larger than France and Germany put together and nearly four times bigger than Great Britain. Within that vast realm, which is sparsely populated outside the major southern British Columbia cities, Pacific Coastal Airlines flies to numerous destinations not served by larger Canadian carriers such as Air Canada or WestJet. I’d call their prices relatively affordable, although Pacific Coastal Airlines is not a budget carrier per se.

On the mainland, destinations include the hub at the South Terminal in Vancouver (YVR), as well as Anahim Lake, Bella Bella, Bella Coola, Kamloops, Kelowna, Penticton, and Powell River.

On Vancouver Island, Pacific Coastal Airlines offers service to Campbell River, Comox, Nanaimo, Port Hardy, Prince George, Trail, Tofino, Victoria, and Williams Lake. The airline also flies to Masset, a community in the Haida Gwaii archipelago, whose pristine beauty dazzled me during a recent catamaran tour. A partner airline, Wilderness Seaplanes, serves dozens of smaller destinations along the British Columbia coast.

Headquarters at Vancouver International Airport (YVR)

Especially for out-of-province travellers, most trips with Pacific Coastal Airlines will begin or end at the South Terminal at Vancouver International Airport (YVR). A short drive south of the main terminal, close to the banks of the Fraser River, the South Terminal feels relaxing and spacious. It welcomes more than half a million passengers a year.

The Pacific Coastal Airlines check-in counter is located on the far left when facing the terminal. I usually grab a pre-flight coffee at the Galiano Cafe, which also has tasty soups and sandwiches. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the South Terminal.

Shuttle service at YVR for Pacific Coastal Airlines

If you’re not taking a taxi or rideshare like Uber or Lyft, you can take advantage of the free shuttles that travel between the main Vancouver airport terminal and the South Terminal. They run every 30 or 40 minutes and take 15 to 20 minutes to reach the South Terminal. The main terminal has shuttle pick-ups outside both its international section (by the U.S. transborder check-in area) and the domestic section (by the domestic check-in area).

Living in downtown Vancouver, I usually go out to YVR via public transit on the Canada Line train when I’m flying with Pacific Coastal Airlines. I time my arrival to coincide with a South Terminal shuttle departure.

Parking at the Vancouver airport for Pacific Coastal Airlines

Bringing your own car? Tons of parking spots are available right outside the South Terminal. There’s also an overflow parking lot just off Cowley Crescent. YVR has recently won awards from the Chicago-based Airports Going Green forum, and in keeping with that, there are two electric vehicle stalls where you can plug in here.

Check-in and preboard screening for Pacific Coastal Airlines

In my experience, check-in and security screening with Pacific Coastal Airlines are about as easy and low-key as you could ask for. The check-in cut-off time is 60 minutes before departure, and checked bags need to be in 40 minutes beforehand. Preboard screening takes place when you’re flying to a secured airport destination, which for Pacific Coastal Airlines includes Campbell River, Comox, Cranbrook, Kamloops, Kelowna, Penticton, Prince George, Williams Lake, Vancouver, and Victoria.

Learning about the Pacific Coastal Airlines fleet

The Pacific Coastal Airlines fleet features four types of turboprop aircraft: the Saab 340A, the Saab 340B, the Beechcraft 1900C, and the Beechcraft 1900D. Both series were first introduced in the early 1980’s.

From a consumer standpoint, the key difference between these reliable, minimalist planes are that the Saab series features more than 30 seats and an on-board washroom, whereas the Beechcraft series has 19 seats and no on-board washroom. I always take a look at the flight time and plan my coffee-drinking and snack-consuming activities accordingly. (Only a handful of Pacific Coastal Airlines flights run longer than two hours.)

In-flight movies, music, and Wi-Fi are not provided, so you’ll need to rely on whatever you’ve downloaded in advance on your mobile device. You can download Soar, the Pacific Coastal Airlines magazine, and peruse articles on British Columbia-based adventures from skiing in Vernon to exploring Vancouver Island’s cider scene. (Full disclosure: I’m a longtime contributor.) From a window seat, I also enjoy admiring magnificent views of natural scenery, from fog-swept coastal mountains to vast forests in the British Columbia Interior.

Seats and leg room on Pacific Coastal Airlines

If you’re a tall person like myself, the amount of leg room on Pacific Coastal Airlines isn’t amazing, but it is adequate. Aboard the Saab series, seat width is 18 inches and seat depth is 19 inches. On the Beechcraft series, it’s quite comparable: seat width is 17.5 inches and seat depth is 19 inches. Advance seat selection is available, but there is a fee for most fare classes.

Carry-on baggage information

Carry-on baggage-wise, I always aim to pack smart on Pacific Coastal Airlines, since the cabins aren’t overly spacious. At no extra charge, you’re allowed two carry-on items, including one carry-on bag (maximum dimensions of 9 x 15.15 x 21.5 inches, up to 22 pounds) and one personal item like a laptop bag or purse (maximum dimensions of 6 x 13 x 17 inches, up to 22 pounds).

There is also planeside valet service for larger carry-on items. Keep in mind that if you’re flying on one of the smaller Beechcraft planes, there are no overhead bins.

Checked baggage information

The maximum weight for each checked bag is 50 pounds. Fees for checked bags vary depending on whether you paid for this service less than or more than 24 hours ahead of your flight. See the Pacific Coastal Airlines web site for the latest specific requirements for transporting musical instruments, equipment from bicycles to scuba gear, pets, and car seats for children.

Change and cancellation policies

Like most airlines, Pacific Coastal Airlines has more lenient change and cancellation policies if you book a higher-tier fare. Given how many remote destinations are serviced, I always take into account the possibility of itinerary changes. Once, I was booked on Pacific Coastal Airlines to fly into the town of Bella Coola in the Great Bear Rainforest, but inclement weather obliged us to land instead in Anahim Lake, which lies a two-hour drive east of Bella Coola.

Accessibility on Pacific Coastal Airlines

As someone with older relatives with limited mobility, it’s nice to see that even a relatively spartan airline like Pacific Coastal Airlines is committed to accessibility for all. It accommodates trained service dogs, mobility aids like wheelchairs, and medical oxygen tanks on board, subject to safety conditions. See the airline website for more details.

History of Pacific Coastal Airlines

The airline was the brainchild of Daryl Smith, a Bella Coola-raised truck logger. Smith’s original goal was to make it simpler to access remote logging camps, and as a young man, he pursued his ambition by buying a seaplane and getting his pilot’s license. In the late 1960’s, he operated a coastal bush plane operation called Wilderness Seaplanes, which stills exists today and enjoys a strong partnership with Pacific Coastal Airlines.

Pacific Coastal Airlines came into existence in the mid-1980’s through a merger between Powell Air and Air BC, brokered by Smith and Ian Harris.

Today, it has become one of the top 10 airlines at the Vancouver airport in terms of both take-offs and landings and total outbound seats.